Heaven

We were offered the use of a friend's cottage just recently (God bless you, Helen!), and spent the most fantastic 2 days just relaxing. With four small boys. Ha. It was bliss.

The sound of the waves lapping and the trees rustling accompanied all our morning shufflings; the breeze was cool, the sun was warm and cozy; the board games were worn and musty; the trains were thunderous and long. Yes, the tracks were so close, we could've spit on them if the trees had been a little thinner. But, hello? Four boys? How is that not cool?

I discovered a few things about my boys during this getaway. They LOVE board games. They LOVE the beach (as in, "roll around soaking wet in the sand making sand angels" love). And they LOVE the attention of their mother and father. I've decided to start a cottage fund - right after the emergency fund, the van replacement fund, the mortgage fund, the college fund, and the retirement fund are in place. No, I'm serious. I can see my family seriously benefiting from some intentionally planned r&r.

The Plug, designed by Dave with tissues on hand, which protected the carseat from very bad treatment until we could get home to the diapers!

My youngest, loving the outdoors.

Our view looking west from the cottage.

The view directly in front of the cottage.

East facing view. Can you feel the serenity?

Kurt, the kind stranger who set all our minds at ease when he allowed Dave to use his laptop to fire off a work-related email.

Says it all, doesn't it?

Compote

I'm a sucker for cooking for my family. "What do you want for...?" Those five words will kill me if I don't watch out.

Here's what I consider a quick breakfast for the boys: Oatmeal Pancakes with a Mixed Berry Compote. It's actually really easy to make if you use a frozen berry mix. My boys SCARF it.

Berry Compote

3 cups frozen mixed berries, thawed

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

4 Tbsp butter

Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan. Lower heat and simmer for 10 mins. Add thawed berries and simmer for 2 more mins. Add butter and stir until melted. Pour over pancakes, ice cream, cheesecake, etc.

Enjoy!

Whisperings

I've been experiencing that restlessness lately. The discontentment that seems to prepare you to leap at the things you once considered insanity. My husband and I are both wanting a change, but see no options in our immediate future. Having sworn off emotional decisions after an international move that set us back more than I care to remember (although, in hind sight, if any event in our lives was ever a sling-shot in God's hands, it would have to be THAT one), we're really trying to discern if we're being side-tracked or prompted. Do I pray, "Change the way things are!"? Or should I be asking for strength to endure? Throughout my day to day, though, I keep having those moments of pause, like an asterick over a cartoon's head, and I wanted to record them here.

I woke up the other morning to find my 7 year old sleeping on the floor beside my bed. Very out of character for him, as he usually crawls right into bed with me. But my initial mental reaction was as equally out of character for me. Normally one to cherish any uninterrupted sleep, I instead thought, "What?! Why is my SON sleeping on my floor?! Doesn't he know he's welcome, WANTED, in bed beside me???" And immediately I was reminded of something once prayed over me many years ago: that I was like a little girl, peeking through a keyhole into the throne room of God, hesitant to come in. But I shouldn't say, "Who am I??" but go with boldness, because He wants me to come in. And I wondered if I haven't been praying as honestly and boldly as God is wanting me to.

The next morning, my 5 year old crawled into bed with us and slept past everyone else's waking. Walking past the bedroom, I heard him crying and stopped to check on him. "Why are you crying?" I asked. "Because I don't want to be in here by myself," he sobbed. "Then get up, come on out," I said, as I went on my morning business. *PAUSE* Discontent with current situations, wishing for change - is God telling me to get up and "go in my own strength," so to speak, and enact change?

And then, an a-ha moment that for some reason has eluded me, despite 30 years of church attendance and 9 years of Christian schooling. My 3 year old came up to me while I was cooking dinner and asked, "Can I have a cowboy hat?" referring to one of the 3 cowboy hats I'd brought home from Dollarama the day before. "I already gave you a cowboy hat," I said. "What did you do with it?" *PAUSE* Romans 11:29 - "The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." All my life I had heard this as a finger-wagging warning: if you once felt the urge to be a pastor, you can try to forget it, but God will hunt you down and force you into it. But when I asked my son, "Where's the gift I've already given you?" I realized that the meaning of that verse is much better translated as assurance - what God gives CANNOT be taken away from us, whether it be broad like repentance and salvation, or specific like the gift of teaching or giving. Even if we've laid it down for a season, it's always ours to pick up again when it's called for.

Reminded!

Well!! I signed on to wail my fears of being overworked and overwhelmed, my shortcomings as a mother and housekeeper, my lack of vision and ambition; and then I read my initial entry. More than before, I'm assured that those thoughts were breathed in me by God. He is SO gracious!

After a full 10 days of a stomach flu, sleep deprivation and Pine Sol fumes are trying to get the best of me. I know "some" like to remind me that these are the "best days of my life," and not to "wish them away." I understand and appreciate their attempt (although I question their sincerity), but am SO glad that God speaks a better language! "For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." (Psalm 103:14)

Situations are never perfect, but the key to our success is perspective. Those who endure trials with hope always seem to come out unscathed. So I will hope, with great expectancy. In the words of my mother: "The best is yet to come!" :D